Industries
Agriculture & Food
Energy strategy for Australian food processors and agricultural manufacturers: market-timed electricity and gas procurement, tariff work and solar that protect your margin.
23%
energy cost increase avoided for a regional food processor by going to market early
35%
scope 2 emissions reduction for a large agricultural manufacturer through a solar and battery solution
$160k+
in potential cost impacts avoided for the regional food processor, with a three-year fixed rate
Just because other costs are rising, don't let energy costs fall under the radar
The challenges
Energy-intensive processing. Heating, drying, pasteurising, milling and packing lines draw heavy, sustained load. Energy is a core operating cost that flows straight into production cost, pricing and profit.
Refrigeration and cold chain. Cool rooms, chillers and freezers run around the clock. That constant load leaves little room to shift consumption away from peak periods.
Seasonal load. Harvest, intake and processing peaks give many operations a load profile that swings across the year. Contracts and demand charges need to be set for that shape, not for an annual average.
Multiple regional sites. Farms, processing plants, packing sheds and depots often sit on different retailers, contracts and end dates. Lapsed contracts and missed renewals are easy to lose track of.
Network tariffs and demand charges. Tariff assignment, peak demand and power factor sit outside the retail rate. On sites running heavy motors and refrigeration they are easy to get wrong and costly to leave alone.
Gas exposure. Boilers, dryers and process heat tie many operations to gas as well as electricity. That means two markets to watch and two contracts to time.
How Utilizer supports food and agriculture
- Market-timed procurement. We track wholesale conditions and take your supply to a competitive tender when the timing suits you, not when the renewal letter arrives. Going to market early shielded a regional food processor from a 23% cost increase and locked in a three-year fixed rate.
- Gas procurement. Gas tenders run ahead of anticipated price rises. For a large agricultural manufacturer, we locked in competitive gas rates before the market moved.
- Tariff, demand and invoice analysis. Network tariff reviews, demand analysis and invoice validation across every site, with consumption reporting in one place through the Empower Portal.
- Solar, battery and efficiency upgrades. Financial modelling of solar and battery options before anything is installed, plus efficiency programs and rebates that reduce installation costs. For one agricultural manufacturer that meant a 35% cut in scope 2 emissions and more than 1,500 energy-efficient LED lights.
- Advisory and energy strategy. A whole-of-business energy plan that sequences procurement, efficiency and renewables, so cost targets and sustainability goals pull in the same direction.
Case study · food processing
Timing is everything: smart energy strategy shields regional food processor from market volatility
With two contracts nearing expiry in a rising market, the business secured a three-year fixed rate of around $90/MWh against a market rate above $117/MWh at expiry, avoiding more than $160,000 in potential cost impacts.
Read the case study23%Energy cost increase avoided
Frequently asked questions
Constant refrigeration load limits how much you can shift, but it doesn't make you a price taker. The timing of your tender, the contract structure, your network tariff and your demand charges all still move the bill.
We can show you where each site stands against what the market would offer today.
Yes. We run gas procurement tenders alongside electricity, timed against market conditions. For a large agricultural manufacturer, a gas tender run ahead of anticipated price rises locked in competitive rates.
No. We manage portfolios nationally, across every state's retailers and network tariffs, with all sites consolidated into one view and one renewal strategy.
Often, yes, but it depends on your load profile, your roof or land, and your capital position. We model solar and battery options financially before anything is installed, and look for efficiency programs and rebates that reduce the cost.
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Speak with an independent Utilizer consultant about the pressures and opportunities specific to your sector. No obligation — just clear advice.
- Level 7, 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
- 1300 501 000
- support@utilizer.com.au
- Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Melbourne time